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FIEST SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



>4 



J 

I?. E F TJ a- E E 



RELIEF COMMISSION 



OIP OHIO 



"5 CmCINNATl, 0., NOVEMBER, 1864. 



GEOEGE r. DAVIS, President. 

JOHN D. CALDWELL, Secretaiy. ^^'^'^^^Js^ 







CINCINNATI: 

TIMES STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT 



;7 






FIRST SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



EEFUGEE RELIEF COMMISSION OF OHIO. 



The Refugee Relief Commission of Ohio, at Cincinnati, 
was organized March 10th, 1864, and the following officers 

were elected : -n- -r» • j i. 

Georo-e F.Davis, President; D. B. Pierson, Vice-President ; 

John D. Caldwell, Secretary; B. F. Brannan, Treasurer; 
James Dalton, T. G. Odiorne, S. C. Newton, Calvin W Star- 
buck S S. Davis, W. H. Harrison, A. J. Trounstine, Henry 
Kessler, Thomas Gilpin, A. D. E. Tweed, John Carhsle, Ex- 
ecutive Committee. 

The object of this association is to afford aid to refugees, 
whose homes have been destroyed by the effects of war, or 
who, from the necessity of obeying military orders, were 
obliged to seek aid and homes among strangers. 

Previous to its organization, attention had been called to 

the necessity of such work by Col. Taylor, Agent of the East 

Tennessee Relief Association, who, in passing through this 

city on his way north, made known the deplorable condition 

of hundreds of noble men and women of that section ot the 

State, who had firmly resisted the authority and tyranny of 

the rebel government, and arrayed themselves on the side 

of the old flag, even against neighbors and friends; and 

who for their loyalty had been deprived of property and 

homes before their friends of the North could come with 

armies to their assistance. A meeting was at that time 

called by the National Union Association, addresses made, 

and an amount of money raised for these truly loyal people. 

In the month of March last Messrs. Lloyd P. Smith, Chair- 



man of the Philadelphia East Tennessee Refugee Associa- 
tion, and Frederic Collins, Chairman of a special commit- 
tee to visit East Tennessee, at a public meeting called for 
the purpose, opened the matter of relief more fully, and 
elicited new interest and an active co-operation in this good 
and benevolent cause. In viewing this work, as it presented 
itself to those in our city, intimate with the border and 
other States where this distress of war prevails, and the 
claims had u-pon our sympathy and assistance from States 
other than East Tennessee, and knowing that a large 
amount of means had been already contributed in the east- 
ern cities for the special and exclusive relief of East Ten- 
nessee, it was thought best that the operations of the Cin- 
cinnati Commission should be general, ministering accord- 
ing to our ability, to whom and from wheresoever came the 
cry of distress from among these poor unfortunates. 

Upon this basis this Commission was started, and a 
Committee, C. W. Starbuck, being the Chairman, was ap- 
pointed to solicit contributions of money. The Committee 
labored with energy and judgment and the sum of $13,000. 
was collected. 

A ladies' society, auxiliary to the Cincinnati Refugee Re- 
lief Commission was formed on the 1st of April, and the 
following ladies were elected officers: Mrs, Wm. Proctor. 
President; Mrs. Dr. Mendenhall, Vice-President; Mrs. 
Wm. Hooper, Treasurer; Mrs. J. C. Morrison, Assistant 
Treasurer; Executive Committee, Mrs. R. B. Field, Mrs. 
Robert Hosea, Mrs. Nathan Guilford, Mrs J. Paul, Mrs. 
Odiorne, Mrs. Remelin, Mrs. Dr. Comegys, Mrs. Thorne; 
Mrs. Shinkle, Mrs. Skifl", Mrs. Banning, Covington, Ky., 
Mrs. John Richardson, Mrs. J. A. Ladd, Miss Mott, New- 
port, Ivy., Miss Annie Walker, Walnut Hills, Miss S. W. 
Pomeroy, Mrs. S. Holmes, of Clifton, Mrs. Henry Jenkins. 

The object of these ladies was to aid in the reception, su- 
pervision and disposal of those who came under the care of 
the Commission, and well have they carried out their work. 
Suitable and central rooms were at once rented for a busi- 



ness office, a work and store room. Mrs. Ryder, a lady 
with excellent qualifications for the place, was appointed 
Superintendent, and devotes all her time to the objects of 
the Commission ; and a supply of clothing, shoes and other 
necessaries were provided for distribution. 

Boxes of goods have been sent to Camp Nelson, Louis- 
ville, Nashville, Cairo, Memphis, Natchez, Little Rock, 
Murfreesboro and New Orleans, and the hundreds of refu- 
gees, who have come to this city, have been comfortably 
clad; warm and sympathetic hearts have advised and cheered 
the weary and way-worn, and provided homes and friends 
to care for them. 

The following articles have been distributed : 

278 shirts, 15 hanakerchiefs, 

90 socks, 45 drawers, 

100 vests, 275 pants, 

50 caps and liats, 25 waists, 

220 shoes, 140 skirts, 

220 coats iind jackets, 300 chemise, 

15 neck-ties, 455 dresses, 

195 sheets 105 bonnets and hoods, 

300 pillow-cases, 7 shawls, 

60 bed-ticks, 51 sacqucs, 

107 pillow-ticks, 3 cloaks, 

7 blankets, 10 capes, 

4 comforts, 5 corsets, 

50 towels, 10 combs, 

173 J yds. unbleached muslin, 12 night- gowns, 
136^ yds. calico, sent to Memphis, thread, needles, buttons, tape, &c. 

The establishment of a home for refugees claimed the 
early attention of the Commission, it being ascertained that 
no provision is made for relief in either city, county or State 
institutions. In no way could these unfortunates find shel- 
ter or food, except by private charity or our police station 
houses. Some provision must be made, or our streets would 
swarm with applicants, friendless and dejected. It was de- 
cided to open a Home as a transient rest, and a diligent 
search failed to find a suitable place for rent. Fortunately for 
the city, and the refugees, the school building on Longworth 



6 

street, near Race, was soon vacated, and through the gen- 
erosity of the School Board, the use of it was granted for 
this purpose. It was at once fitted up, and Mr. and Mrs. L. 
Y. Looker have, from the first, been in charge, under a 
committee of the Commission. 

The following shows the number received, the ages and 
the disposal of the inmates up to September 17th, when but 
seven remained in the Home from April 2l8t to September 
17th: 

Whole number admitted to the Home, 435 

Males, 154 

Females, 281 

Ages from 1 month to 10 years, .151 

" 10 years to 20 " 93 

73 

46 

29 

30 

14 

The whole number of refugees assisted by this Commis- 
sion is 730, from the following States up to September 18 : 

East Tennesse, 486 Kentucky, 80 

Georgia, 51 Alabama, 44 

Arkansas, 24 Mississippi, 33 

Virginia, 16 Louisiana, 4 

North Carolina, 4 South Carolina, 1 

Of these refugees about two-thirds are worthy people, 
though they are ignorant and have apparently always been 
poor; they are industrious and anxious to improve, and seem 
honest and simple-hearted. 

About one-third are laz}^ and dirty, and so apathetic as to 
leave little hope for improvement in this generation, still 
they are not likely to swell the police reports of the North. 

The absolutely vicious make a very small portion of the 
whole. Many of them are widows of loyal and daring 
men who have fallen in our armies, and who come to us 
with heavy hearts, not knowing where to lay their heads. 



20 " 


to 30 


30 " 


to 40 


40 " 


to 50 


50 " 


to 55 


55 " 


to 85 



How to dispose of these has been the question. Three- 
quarters of them have been trained to till the soil, obtain- 
ing a scanty living among the hills of Tennessee and 
Georgia. With habits ill adapted to city life, no way can 
be devised to find employment adequate to their support, 
except by distributing them far and near to places better 
adapted to their capacities for labor. It is, too, but right 
and just that the burden should be equalized, and that bor- 
der towns and cities should not be exclusively taxed with 
the care and expense of relieving a common burden, brought 
about by a common cause. Seven out of ten ask to be sent 
to the country, to some friend they have known, and where 
they can find work adapted to their habits. Shut up to the 
necessity of doing this, we must ask our friends in the coun- 
try to bear with us if we occasionally give them an oppor- 
tunity of sharing with us the burden of protecting and 
assisting these poor distressed people. 

Few among us have any idea of the terrible state of mis- 
ery and degredation which has followed the tramp of the 
contending armies. Among other reports we have received 
is a copy of the following, and we might add, that at the 
present moment we have the most pressing calls from Nash- 
ville, where fourteen thousand refugees have been received or 
passed through the city, and hundreds of women and chil- 
dren are in fields or hovels, scantily clad in garments ill 
suited to the season and daily dying from exposure and 
want. 

The following extracts from reports we have received 
from Natchez, show the great need there is for material 
aid for these suffering refugees : 

" A large proportion of those whom we have aided have 
husbands, brothers and sons in the Union army, and this 
fact rests not upon their statements only, but on positive 

proof. , w • 4.1, 

" Banks' unfortunate expedition brought ruin upon thou- 
sands, for the people, feeling confident of his success, openly 
avowed their attachment to the Union, and after his defeat 
they were left wholly unprotected. Their houses were 



8' 

burned over their heads, and thej themselves were com- 
pelled to flee for their lives. 

" On both sides of the river they are crowded together in 
miserable buildings, and when those fail they lie often with 
no bed but the damp ground, and no covering but the open 
sky. No wonder that death makes such awful havoc among 
them. 

" In an old warehouse we found fifty-seven in one room, of 
this number only twelve were able to stand, they were so 
sick and weak from exposure and want of food. 

" A sick woman lay on the floor with a babe a week old 
b}'' her side, at her feet lay a little child two years old, wast- 
ed to a skeleton by want and disease, while her four other 
children lay near her, all too sick to bring even a drink, of 
water. Her husband is a soldier in our army. 

" On a blanket in the corner, with a few old clothes rolled 
up to supply the place of a pillow, lay three little children, 
all very sick. Their mother, a worn, feeble-looking woman, 
sat beside them on the floor, and as I stooped to examine 
the little ones and inquire into their wants, she burst into 
tears and exclaimed, ' I am afraid my children will all die ! 
I have no medicines and nothing that they can eat, God 
knows what is to become of us ! ' Her look of bitter de- 
spair as she said this, haunted me for days afterward. 

" I found her husband and son had entered our army 
more than a year ago, but she had lost all track of them, and 
they knew nothing of her whereabouts. 

"A short distance from the building I have described, in 
a wretched shed where hogs had always been quartered, I 
found three families in a condition which it is impossible to 
describe. The building had no floor and the stagnant wa- 
ter stood upon the ground in many places, while the air 
within was so intolerable that while dealing out food and 
medicines I was several times obliged to go out in the open 
air. 

"Upon the ground lay a mother, a grown daughter and 
four other sick children. Close beside them was a woman 
too far gone to speak or notice us. 

" But I need not dwell longer upon these heart-rending 
scenes ; enough has been said to awaken sympathy in every 
heart that contains one spark of feeling or humanity. 

" I know that many have but little sympathy for these 
refugees, denouncing them all as secessionists and not wor- 
thy our charity. I can only say that such persons either 



lack heart or they have been superficial in their investiga- 
tions. My own experience with them has been quite the 
contrary." 

A large majority of the refugees have, as will be seen, 
been assisted to places in the interior of this State, to Illi- 
nois, Indiana, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massa- 
chusetts, and to other i^ew England States, and means have 
been furnished them for expenses when necessary. 

The Ladies' Executive Committee are indebted to the 
First and Second Ladies' Aid Societies of Dayton, to Ur- 
bana, Oregon, Beverly, Bel pre, Athens, Columbus, Freder- 
icktown, New Richmond, Springfield, Xenia, Yellow Springs 
and Erie, Pa., for valuable clothing ; also from sundry ladies 
of Cincinnati, very many articles, and for services too nu- 
merous to mention. 

The Ladies' Executive Committee most earnestly ask for 
continued assistance from all, and every article of clothing, 
small or great, will be thankfully received at the depot, No. 
99 Sixth street. 



NAMES OF SUBSOEIBERS TO THE FUND FOE BELIEF 

OF REFUGEES, I]V 1S63. 

N. Longworth, $500 00 Geo. K. Shoenberger, $300 00 

Lnrz. Anderson, 250 00 W. W. Scarborough, 200 00 

Cincinnati Ins. Co., 200 00 Franklin Bank, 200 00 

Sun. Richardson, of Pittsb'gli, 200 00 Commercial Bank, 200 00 

Griffin Taylor, 200 00 Lndies' Union Circle of Bcl- 

A. M. Taylor& Co., 200 00 pre, O., 125 00 

C. W. Starbuck, 100 00 Wilson, Eii:g-leston & Co., .... 100 00 

Heidelbach, Seasongood & Giirdner Pliipps & Co., 100 00 

Co 100 00 Shinley, Hoover & Co., 100 00 

J. P. Kilbreth & Co 100 00 McKeehan & Evans, 100 00 

Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle,... 100 00 Soldier's Aid Society, Mans- 

Chas.H. Wolff & Co., 100 00 field, O., 100 00 

J. L. Wayne, 100 00 Crane, Breed & Co., 100 00 

E. Kinnev 100 00 A. Trounstine & Co., 100 00 

M. E. Reeves & Co., 100 00 Wvnne, Haines & Co., 100 00 

John Carlisle, 100 00 E.G. Leonard & Co 100 00 

W. H. Harrison, 100 00 Acton, Clark & Co ICO 00 

John Shillito, 100 00 Wm. Glenn & Sons, 100 00 

Tyler Davidson & Co., 100 00 Ellis, McAlpin & Co 100 00 

Rob't Mitchell, 100 00 R. M. Pomeroy & Co., 100 00 



10; 



Gilmore, Dunlap & Co., $100 00 

R W. Burnet 100 00 

Eden B. Reeder 100 00 

Addy, Hull & Ray, 100 00 

Chas. Davis & Co., 100 00 

J. Rawson, 100 00 

Kuhn, Netter & Co., 75 00 

Howell Gano & Co., 75 00 

B. Mey.erg & Co., 75 00 

Huntinf^tun Bros. & Co., 75 00 

E.T.Carson, 50 00 

S. S.Davis, 50 00 

Cash, 50 00 

Jos. C. Butler, 50 00 

Jas. C. Moore, 50 00 

C. F. Adae & Co., 50 00 

Fallis, Young & Co., 50 00 

C. B. Camp & Co., 50 00 

Samuel B. Keys, 50 00 

Keck & Shaffer, 50 00 

Wm. CliflFo rd Neff, 50 00 

Adolph Wo( )d & Co., 50 00 

Metcalt & Evans 50 00 

flaughton & Reid, 50 00 

Mrs. Joanna Hunt, of Law- 

rencebu gli, Ind., 50 00 

James Waison, 50 00 

R. Ellis, Jr.. & Co., 50 00 

W. W. McGrew, 50 00 

Wm. Sumner & Co., 50 00 

Robert Clarke & Co., 50 00 

Moore, Wil>tach & Baldwin, 50 00 

Neave, Ward & Co,, 50 00 

Wm. Resor & Co., 50 00 

R. M. Bishop & Co., 50 00 

Tweed & Sibley, 50 00 

R. Hosea, 50 00 

Glaser & Bro., 50 00 

Peter Neflf& Sons, 50 00 

H. P. West, 50 00 

R. W. Booth & Co 50 00 

W. H. Comstock & Co., 50 00 

Thos. Woodnut 50 00 

J. A. Duu'an & Co., 50 00 

A. D. Bullock & Co,, 50 00 

Mr. Steele, Springfield, 0., . . . 33 33 

J. M. McCullough, 30 00 

Daniel Hisson and others, of 

Lexington Station, O., 27 65 

P. H. Vaudervoort and others, 

Antioch, 26 00 

E. Sturges, Jr., Mansfield, O., 25 00 

Thomson & Keen, 25 00 

Tliayer & Aldrich, 25 00 

Cash, E. G. W. «& Co., 25 00 

Lockwood & Crawford, 25 00 

Menderson & Frohman, 25 00 

Henry J. Smith, 25 00 

]gtei(ielbach & Friedlander, . . 25 00 



J. T. Warren & Co., $100 00 

D. Gibson & Co., 100 00 

M. Werk&Co., 100 00 

Procter & Gamble, 100 00 

Other Subscriptions, 91 00 

John Gates & Co., 75 00 

Mack&Bros., 75 Oa 

Mrs. E. D. Stewart and others, 

Athens, 65 50 

F. E. Suire, 50 00 

J. & C. Reakirt, 50 00 

J. D. Lehmer, 50 00 

Soldier's Aid Society of Chil- 

licothe, O., 50 00 

Aub, Frenkel & Co., 50 00 

Harrison & Hooper, 50 00 

R. Macready & Co., 50 00 

Mills & WoodruflF, 50 00 

James Andrews, 50 00 

A. «&. I. Wolf&Co.,.. 50 00 

Hafer & Duddy, 50 00 

Meader«&Co 50 00 

Gibson, Earley & Co., 50 00 

Dubois & Augur, 50 00 

Bohm, Mack'fe Co., 50 00 

Stadler & Bro., 50 00 

Dickson, Olark & Co., 50 00 

Marcus Fecheimer, 50 00 

Stedman & Shaw 50 00 

Shaw, Barbour & Co., 50 00 

Nixon, Chatfield & Woods,.. 50 00 

G. D. Winchell, Marsh & Co., 50 00 

Foote, Nash & Co., 50 00 

Stout, Preston & Hicks, 50 00 

Jones Bros. & Co., 50 00 

Rindskopf Bros. & Co., 50 00 

B. Simon & Co., 50 00 

S. H. Burton & Co 50 00 

Huo h M. Bimey & Co., 50 00 

McAlpin, Hinman & Co., 50 00 

Robert Brown, .' 50 00 

R. A. Holden & Co., 50 00 

J. A. Frazer & Co., 50 00 

Capt. J. C. Culbertson, 40 00 

Lockard & Irelan-l, 25 00 

R. Brown & Co., 25 00 

Gideon Burton 25 00 

B. Homans & Co., 25 00 

Hewson, White & Co., 25 00 

1.& B. Bruce, 25 00 

Baker & Innis 25 00 

Espy, Heidelbach & Co.,. ... 25 00 

G.Meldrum&Co 25 00 

Heron, Rogers & Paddock, . . 25 00 

George W. George, 25 00 

D. L. Carrick, 25 00 

Wm. A.Webb, 25 00 

Burckhardt & Co., 25 00 

McKee&Roth, 25 00 



11 



"Rnliens & Nathan, $25 00 

C.M.March, 25 00 

0. W. Dcland, 25 00 

Cash, 25 00 

liic'ci y & Carroll, 25 00 

J. V/. Wnyne, 25 00 

B:ivi & Hickox, 25 00 

Diii-,iiie&Co 25 00 

Stall & Meyer 25 00 

A. Siinpkinson & Co., 25 00 

C.iniicr & Tice, 25 00 

AlcMillan, Morris & Co., 25 00 

Devon & Co 25 00 

M. T. Antram & Co 25 00 

Stix, Krause & Co 25 00 

.1. E. Wynne & Co 25 00 

Chnnibfrs. Si evens «& Co.,. . . 25 00 

Cash, P. T. & H., 25 00 

Ilavnes. Spencer & Co., 25 00 

Jiffras & Co., 25 00 

Aladdux Brothers, 25 00 

Cash, 25 00 

Thompson & Co 20 00 

A. Ackerland & Co., 20 00 

T. Neave & Sons, 20 00 

J. W. Canfield, 20 00 

E. P. Davis, 20 00 

Chas. Biirkam, 20 00 

Lewis Kennedy, 20 00 

Wm. S. Merrill & Co., 20 00 

F. M. Sione, 20 00 

W. H. Allei 20 00 

I (ev. U. Raschig, 18 60 

(.has. Boiisall, 15 00 

k-niiih & Bi)erner 15 00 

I'appenheinicr «& Dreyfoos,. . 15 00 

Kossmaii & Rnsenlieini, 15 00 

Amhnrgh & Bro., 10 00 

Cash 10 00 

11. & L. Morgenthal, 10 00 

Cash 10 00 

Smith & McAlpin, 10 00 

J. S. Moffett, 10 00 

Adam Epplv, 10 00 

Newburijer & Raub, 10 00 

G. W. SiioU 10 00 

Grav, Cadwallader & Wiggs, 10 00 

(\ash 10 00 

Guiti'i man & Holzbacher, ... 10 00 

Cash, 10 00 

Huffman & Mosicr, 10 00 

Larkin, Fox & Co., 10 00 

Cash, 10 00 

Cash, M. & Co., 10 00 

Wertheimer & Marks, 10 00 

:Middlcton, S'robridge & Co., 10 00 

Jenkin & Hatch, 10 00 

Cash, H. G. H 10 00 

Cash, D. R. M., 10 00 



Applegate & Co., $25 00 

Bnrdsal & Bro., 25 00 

Wells, Titus & Sterrett,.... 25 00 

Geo. H. Hill, 25 00 

Bishop Brothers, 25 00 

Traber & Aubery, 25 00 

P. B. Cloon, 25 00 

T. R. Biggs & Co., 25 00 

Brashears, McLaughlin & Co., 25 00 

Gould, Pearce & Co., 25 00 

B. B.& Co 25 00 

Bare, Hardin-r & Howell, .... 25 00 

Neff, Eairan & Slocomb, 25 00 

George Fox, 25 00 

J. Lowman & Bro., 25 00 

D. B. Pierson 25 00 

E. Lei-hton & Co., 25 00 

Hinkle, Guild & Co., 25 00 

H. & H. A. Bowman, 25 00 

Soldier's Aid Society of Fred- 

ericton, Knox Co., O.,. ... 24 65 

Jabez Wait, Quincy, Ky.,. ... 21 00 

J. H. Schrader & Co., 20 00 

A. Taft 20 00 

A. P. C. B., 20 00 

Wm. Heatt, Montgomery, 

Hamilton county, O., 20 00 

Guiterman Bros. & Co., 20 00 

G. B. Hollister, 20 00 

H. Schrader, 20 00 

L. W., 20 00 

Dr. Geo. Mendenhall, 20 00 

Lewis Wald & Co., 15 00 

H. S. Miles 15 00 

Yountr & Holmes, 15 00 

Wm. D. Morijan, 10 00 

Posey & Flinn, 10 00 

Yeatman&Co 10 00 

RosenfieLl & Kaufman 10 00 

Brad ford & Sharp, 10 00 

W. Huddart&Co., 

Sechier & Porter, 10 00 

F. Skinner, 10 00 

Simon Shohl & Co., 10 00 

C. E. Johnson, 10 00 

Leon, Marks, & Co., 10 00 

J. H. Lewis & Co 10 00 

C.W.Rowland 10 00 

S. S. Smith, Jr., 10 00 

M. R Barniiz, 10 00 

Heai ne, Lee & Biggs, 10 00 

Cash 10 00 

W. W. Hanly & Co., 10 00 

A. G. Gano, 10 OQ 

B ibbitt, Good & Co., 10 00 

S.J.Davis, 10 00 

Frybury & Workem, 10 00 

J. W. Garrison, 10 00 

A. Labrot, 10 00 



12 

D. Banning $10 00 Casli, $10 00 

J. Harnimar, 10 00 A. Fiurar, 10 00 

L. D. Watson & Bro., 10 00 S.Wilson 10 00 

A. B. Clark & Bro., 10 00 Jas. Skar.lon, 10 00 

M. B ire & Co., 10 00 John W. Amlrews, of Colum- 

Cash, 10 00 bus, 10 00 

J. C. Towers & Co., 10 00 Thomas Morgan, 10 00 

W. H. Schur, 10 00 Wni. G. W. Lewis 10 00 

Rc'dwav & Barton 10 00 Rev. Richard Gray, 10 00 

Cash, W. &L., 10 00 Rev. J. Braden, 10 00 

The receipts and expenditures have been as follows: 

Am't of collections from sundry persons in Cincinnati,.. $ 

Am't of collections from sundry persons in Cleveland,. .. $ 



$13,362 33 

Am't paid for railroad and steamboat transportation of 

refugees to sundry places, $1,543 20 

Coal and hospital supplies sent for use of sufferers at 
Cairo, Nashville, Memphis, Natchez, Little Rock, 
and New Orleans, 3,533 14 

Sundry expenses, keeping up the Home on Longworth 
street say coal, meat, bread, groceries, medical at- 
tendance, &c., 1,051 14 

L. V. Looker, salary, 350 00 

Sundry hills for dry goods and shoes for ladies' rooms,.. 3,459 50 

Fitting up and furnishing Home, 630 18 

Cash furnished refugees for traveling expenses to friends 

and homes, 772 00 

Sundries, 94 05 

Cash on hand, 1,929 02 

— ^ $13,362 23 

Mem. — This balance in November is less tlian $1,000. 

At the outset of our work efforts were made to ob- 
tain from our State Legislature co-operation in the object, 
and the attention of our members of Congress was also 
called to the subject of the large influx of a dependent pop- 
ulation upon the border towns and cities. Correspondence 
was also had with Boston, ITew York and Philadelphia, but 
with no definite results or assistance. Consequently the 
border towns have generously and freely carried on the 
work with a sanguine hope that the coming meeting ot 
Congress will devise some way to render suitable relief to 
such as are in distress in their own districts until a way is 
opened for their support among their friends, and by their 



13 

own exertions at home. It seemed also riglit and reasona- 
ble, that Cincinnati, as well as other border towns and cities, 
should not be made to boar the sole expense of sending 
these wanderers (many of them,) to their former homes in 
Massachusetts and New York, to say nothing of otlier 
points nearer to us. Often have we done this, as our 
report will show ; and gladly will we continue to do so, so 
long as we can find the means. We refer to the matter now 
solely because we see clearly that the distress of the c(jming 
winter will be unparalleled in some districts; and nothing 
but the prompt and liheral activity of the people will save 
from death hundreds of these poor homeless women and 
children. The stringency of military orders in sending 
whole communities to the border States is dailv foistinof 
upon the border towns an increase of misery and want, 
which should appeal to every lieart. We speak not so much 
upon our own behalf, for, comparatively, we have been 
brought into contact with but a small portion of this suffer- 
ing ; but we plead for Nashville, for Memphis, St. Louis 
Cairo and Louisville, places whose location lays them open 
to a constant influx of suffering humanity, without adequate 
means to transport or even to feed the thousands, many of 
whom are now exposed, with such shelter only as they can 
find in the woods around these cities. The funds generously 
contributed in this city have carried us through six months, 
and are now nearly exhausted. We would not give up this 
humane work, we would not abandon our Home, Ave would 
not see upon our streets loyal men and women Avith their 
children, made desolate by the misfortunes of war, hunting 
for shelter and for food ; and we feel that the heart of this 
great, this noble people, whose sympathies have been so 
active, and who have, ever since the war commenced, been 
at every door where a suflerer lay with their otferings, will 
from far and near respond to calls for aid in carrying out 
these etforts; and say to us and to kindred associations, go 
ou with your work and you shall not lack for means. 

Money handed to any member of the Commission, or 



14 

clothing sent to the Ladies' Room in the Medical Colli^ife 
Building, on Sixth street, will be thankfully received. 

P. S. — Unavoidable delaj^s have prevented earlier pu!<li- 
cation of this report. Since the above statements wore 
penned, over five hundred refugees have been cared for by 
our Commission, and the prospect is that very ample provi- 
sion will yet have to be made. This final appeal is made to 
the men and women of Ohio, to feed the hungry, clothe the 
naked, and care for the sick Union refugees. The call is 
not in behalf of the able-bodied men, for whom the Com- 
mission can find work, but for the aged and helpless — and 
for women and children. 

For Refugee Relief Commission of Ohio, 

JOHN D. CALDWELL, Secretary. 
Cincinnati, 0., Nov. 16, 1864. 



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